Will the green eye ever come back? and what if it does?

The MINI battery is original, have been noticing labored starting, so I thought I'd check up on the ole' battery. The battery is MINI brand and has a 'green eye' hygrometer built into the case which is currently black, and the battery is thirsty...been chargin' four hours and the needle still around drawing 4 amps. It's a 2006. Will the eye ever turn green with a battery this age? also the belts are crazy loud and the p/s is frothin' after startup Do nothing. That's what I thought.

17 Answers

leave the battery on low charge like that overnight, it might come out of it
but it is getting weak. Froth in the PS fluid running is telling me that air in
getting in the system somewhere or the fluid is contaminated. Belts loud
might just be worn out or dirty belts, might check pulley alignment too.

Modern cars are starting to have a battery function in their multi media
systems. The battery is logged in when new and it monitors the battery
health and level of charge as it ages. It will tell you when it's time to replace
it. The green eye battery is something you tell your great-grandchildren
about when they stop by in their new hovercrafts.

naw, tenspeed this life isn't so sweet would wish this level of trouble on
any human being...done the world a big favor with the vasectomy, mother
earth will thank me- and wild unprotected times ahead~

alls I know is the battery sounded weak from day one, now with this
'remote key' controls the entire universe, am met with a bit of trepidation,
because now it can decide "I don't have enough energy to open your
door" with no MANUAL control of it, am forced to call the wrecker to tow
me away....that stinks!

I have a battery that the green eye is black. It's only an indication of that certain cell that the eye sits over, but not overall battery health. Stuck it on a trickle charger, and got 12.2-12.4v on it and drive the car every day and no issues, yet for 4 months through this cold winter. Gonna wait till I get the extra cranking syndrome. Batteries have increased in price in the last year or so, so I'm going holding out as long as I can.

me tom, just the slow solenoid had me wonderin' never did any testing,
just slammed the schumbacher into place, now it's down to 3 and the eye
has turned green again....hooray....I guess- it's an OEM from 2006,
should get a few more years out you might think? nest-ce-pas?

Your batter is already 7 years old. it is very near due for replacement, anyway. The trouble is that the multi-plexed electrical system from Bosch does not like the voltage fluctuations that can come from a weak battery. I would invest in a new one very soon.

drat, MINI stuff is crazy, numbo insane expensive...the battery is OEM
says MINI on it, and has a special tube for battery gasses to exit...never
seen this level of fussiness- reluctantly will price this thing out, but also
have the transmission level on the CVT that NO one wants to touch, not
even the videos have anything good to say about the subject.

don't need it tenspeed. This is California!....no rust. under the lid looked
brand-new and frankly the notion of only having 33,000 miles means must
have had a bunch of short trips--which don't allow full charge up with each
use X 7 years = the current level, tho overnite seems to be okay now.

Just be prepared. On average a battery loses 10% capacity per year, so your 7 year old battery is likely to be around 30% of normal capacity at the moment. It is only a matter of time. Yes, Minis are not inexpensive to keep. That is the fun of owning a German-designed, English-built piece of machinery. Things do tend to be expensive on them. Also, better to spend the money on the battery early, before it is dead, as this protects the alternator and you REALLY don't want to see the price of that. Plus, if the voltage regulator goes, the damage to other parts of the car will ASTOUND you! I have seen perfect Minis being scrapped because of the resulting damage from a dead battery killing the alternator.

Judge: IMPORTANT thing to take note of: 7 years old, and only 33,000 miles on the clock. This means one thing: Time has caught up with the timing belt! Do NOT wait. You are due, and actually overdue, to have it done. It should be done every 6 years or 60,000 miles on most cars. Most owner's manuals, though, don't give the time factor. The rubber deteriorates with the hot/cold cycles, and if that belt snaps, unless you are extremely lucky, you are buying an engine. The engine in the Mini, like most new cars, is an interference design. That belt brakes, a piston hits and valve, and it is game over. No rebuild, just replace the entire engine. Bad enough to put in a used one, you really don't want to think of the price of a new one. Including labour, that would come close to what you paid for the car, if not more.

I am an A.S.E certified mechanic, my advice take it or leave it. If your battery is over two years old, theres not much life left in it. Mini factory battery's are sealed, meaning you can't add any water. In fact mine blew out on me, one day after Mini's famous service. My advice is find either a dealer, or someone who sells Interstate Battery's. Stay outta Wal-Mart, and discount auto parts stores. Interstate does make the proper battery, they make their own. It's a lot cheaper than the dealer and will last you much, much longer.Why take a chance on a re-charged battery when for 70-80 bucks you can have peace of mind. My second choice would be a Motorcraft, if they make your size.

duly noted Mark, some of your advise has been echoed ad nauseum
by myself as well. Does have a curious "vent snorkel" I've not seen
anywhere else, also dual containment so no ambient conditions can
penetrate...akin to Cadillac's back seat battery...man if that bugger
ever caught fire....hope the upholstery more fire resistant than a kid's
pair of jammies...never could make certification, too much wrenchin'
and no time for studying...now it's like a moving target to stay on the
latest automotive happenings...I bet you guys have a monthly
publication~....welcome aboard, we always need knowledgeable
people, not those who simply stand back on the sidelines and
criticize, but actual competent help...you'll find that your reputation will
quickly rise if you spend a whole day answering questions...good
luck~ Goddamn CVT oil is $310/qt. ooof, she had to have the
automatic~

I been professionally out of the business a few years now, and your right. The tech is moving faster than anything ever built. My on board computer is F.R.E.D. F%%# Redickless Electronic Device.I still try to keep up, being a Mini owner you know B.M.W. service: bring my wallet. At least the basics are the same You need electric power, fuel and compression, or the damn thing won't work. It's not so much their complicated, their too damn compact. You need little Jap. hands with little Jap fingers to work on any of this crap, even the larger cars.Anyhow I'm a few keystrokes away if anyone needs a hand. Live Long and Prosper

Note for Michael: the MINI R50 engine has a timing chain~ My MINI
mechanic said the 2006 battery was "just fine" for a while~ so glad to
have the $310/qt. green CVT oil replace with a common yellow CVT
oil, filled the proper level and does not seem to leak...one thing on
deck is the environmental air filter is a relatively easy replace, the
rental agency must have rented to someone who took their smelly
shoes off...hasn't showed up until the warm weather "Pine Tree" air
freshener was slaughtered on the first day....oh, next payday~

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